Southbound 215 in Perris could be closed 24 hours after big rig crash

A big rig hit an overpass on the Interstate 215 in Perris Tuesday morning.

A big rig hit an overpass on the Interstate 215 in Perris Tuesday morning. (Riverside County Transportation Commission)

Samantha Schaefer

The southbound lanes of Interstate 215 in Perris are expected to be closed at least 24 hours after a big rig hit an overpass Tuesday morning, a Caltrans spokeswoman said.

About 7:30 a.m., the big rig took the wrong route and hit the overpass at Perris Boulevard, which is under construction, Caltrans officials said. The truck was too tall to pass under the bridge and hit the wood and steel “false work,” which will have to be removed and repaired, the agency said.

One contract employee was moderately injured and taken to the hospital, a Caltrans spokeswoman said. The bridge is under construction with the Riverside County Transportation Commission; Caltrans is the oversight agency, according to Caltrans.

Traffic was backed up about two miles along Nuevo Road. That will probably worsen during rush hour, officials said.

Motorists should avoid the southbound 215. State Route 74 is available from Interstate 15 in Corona and will bypass the closure limits, which are just south of 4th Street in Perris.